I don't think I'm very good at creating a blog. It's been several months since my last attempt and so much has happened I don't know where to begin. I continued on with the art classes, then took another several sessions of classes with Michael Hill. In July I participated in a 4 day "plein air" painting camp in Fort Langley with both Lalita Hamill and Michael Hill. I can't begin to explain how much I've learned from all this. I feel like I've gotten such a late start that I'm this big sponge that tries to absorb everything in it's path. And I LOVE every minute of it even when my body aches and nothing seems to be working.
I've had my share of successes as well along the way. In January I was prepared to say that I loved to paint and that perhaps at some point I might even be able to do something with it. I was totally uncertain of my own ability level and took compliments with a grain of salt believing people were simply being kind. Since then my occasional successes have kept me going. In April, expecting nothing, I submitted 4 paintings to the Bloom Six juried art exhibition at the Coast Collective in Victoria, BC. To my surprise 3 of my paintings were accepted. Apparently that's a really good result. In June I submitted 3 paintings to the Surrey Arts 2014 juried art exhibition. Only one painting is allowed to be accepted and my "Rose Hips" painting was not only accepted, but it was awarded 3rd prize. Recently I've had another painting accepted into the "Cascadia" exhibition at the Surrey Art Gallery and just last Saturday my "Kula Lodge Hibiscus" painting won the "Best in Show" prize at the Surrey Arts Council Arts Walk 2014 at the Cloverdale Blueberry Festival. And this past Monday I became an official member of the Federation of Canadian Artists - a really big deal!!
As a result of all this I've decided that perhaps I'm a "real" artist after all. I finally retired in May of this year and find myself painting and gardening every day. It's become a passion and a necessary part of my everyday life.
Although I suspect no one is reading this blog I'll try to make entries a bit more often in the future.
I've had my share of successes as well along the way. In January I was prepared to say that I loved to paint and that perhaps at some point I might even be able to do something with it. I was totally uncertain of my own ability level and took compliments with a grain of salt believing people were simply being kind. Since then my occasional successes have kept me going. In April, expecting nothing, I submitted 4 paintings to the Bloom Six juried art exhibition at the Coast Collective in Victoria, BC. To my surprise 3 of my paintings were accepted. Apparently that's a really good result. In June I submitted 3 paintings to the Surrey Arts 2014 juried art exhibition. Only one painting is allowed to be accepted and my "Rose Hips" painting was not only accepted, but it was awarded 3rd prize. Recently I've had another painting accepted into the "Cascadia" exhibition at the Surrey Art Gallery and just last Saturday my "Kula Lodge Hibiscus" painting won the "Best in Show" prize at the Surrey Arts Council Arts Walk 2014 at the Cloverdale Blueberry Festival. And this past Monday I became an official member of the Federation of Canadian Artists - a really big deal!!
As a result of all this I've decided that perhaps I'm a "real" artist after all. I finally retired in May of this year and find myself painting and gardening every day. It's become a passion and a necessary part of my everyday life.
Although I suspect no one is reading this blog I'll try to make entries a bit more often in the future.
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